The internet has revolutionized the way we all do business, and you’re probably no stranger to it. But when you think of blogging, you might picture soccer moms in sweatpants, posting pictures of their kids and bragging about accomplishments. Or perhaps you think of a teenager publishing a dramatic online diary.
If you aren’t blogging, you’re probably leaving money on the table.
Actually, blogging has moved far beyond the old days of personal journaling. Today’s savvy business owners are blogging about industry news, their professional experiences, personal interest stories, and more. It has become one of the best ways to make a name for yourself and your company, keep in touch with existing clients, develop loyal followers, reach new prospects, and gain market share.
So the only question left to answer is… Why aren’t you blogging?
A blog can serve to accomplish many goals at once, such as:
Blogging boosts your search engine optimization (SEO). Search engines reward frequently updated, informative websites with higher search rankings.
You own your blog. Everything you publish on your blog belongs to you, and your content continues working for you as long as it is live on your website. Blogs are one of the best marketing investments you can make.
Blogging gives your company a personality. It’s your chance to show customers and potential clients the name, face, and personality behind your business. Most people would rather do business with someone they know, and a blog can serve as your online introduction to the world.
Your blog serves as your online hub for content marketing. When you publish informative, engaging blogs, you now have something to share with your target audience via social media or targeted emails.
Blogging helps you interact with your customers. It’s not a lecture, but a conversation! Your blog is your opportunity to encourage conversation, engagement, and interaction with your database. Without it, you are missing a valuable connection with your clients and prospects.
You can establish yourself as an industry expert. Your peers are more likely to reach out to you with new opportunities, and potential clients view you as a trustworthy and valuable resource. When they need the type of help you offer, your name will be the first that comes to mind.
Blogging makes you competitive. If you aren’t doing it, someone else in your field probably is. Why lose market share to competitors when you could be getting your share of the pie and more?
Blogging keeps you focused. Every business owner needs to hone their focus. What image do you want to project? What are your specialties? What impression do you want to make on clients? Publishing a blog makes you think about all of these things on a regular basis, and reminds you of your goals.
You learn more about your target audience. By tracking stats like click-through rates, shares, comments, and time spent browsing your website, you can determine which topics interest your readers the most. This will lend you valuable insight into your customer base.
According to numerous surveys, blogging helps businesses retain customers, increase referrals, convert more prospects into clients, and increase revenue.
So tell me again… Why aren’t you blogging?
